Between Tuesday 4 and Friday 7 November, B:Music will proudly host the European Concert Hall Organisation (ECHO) Director’s meeting, led by B:Music Chief Executive Nick Reed.
Concert hall leaders from across Europe will gather in Birmingham for a packed programme showcasing the city’s world-class music venues and vibrant cultural scene from 4 to 7 November, with a brief visit to Oxford also on the itinerary.
The visit coincides with the 30th anniversary of ECHO’s acclaimed Rising Stars programme, which for three decades has identified and supported exceptional emerging performers. Each year, the initiative delivers around 110 concerts and 70 special projects across ECHO’s member halls, including B:Music’s Town Hall and Symphony Hall, with a mission to bring fresh energy to the global stage, engage diverse audiences, and inspire social progress through music.
The Directors’ meeting programme includes the opportunity to attend the CBSO’s Kazuki & Isata Kanneh-Mason concert at Symphony Hall on 5 November and to meet Chief Conductor Kazuki Yamada. Guests will also enjoy performances from B:and Together, B:Music’s jazz and gospel ensemble for young people, at Birmingham Town Hall, in an event attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.
B:and Together brings together talented young musicians from across the city for fortnightly workshops led by some of Birmingham’s leading industry professionals. The ensemble offers a welcoming space to make music, build friendships and develop musical skills and confidence.
Nick Reed, Chief Executive of B:Music, said: “It’s an honour for B:Music to host the ECHO Directors here in Birmingham. This gathering highlights our ongoing connection with Europe’s leading concert halls and our shared belief in the power of music to bring people together.
With the ECHO Rising Stars programme celebrating its 30th anniversary, it’s the perfect opportunity to showcase Birmingham as a city of culture, creativity and international collaboration- and to demonstrate once again that B:Music is helping put Birmingham firmly on the map.
Symphony Hall and Town Hall have proudly been part of the Rising Stars series since it began in 1995. Our current ECHO Rising Stars season brings a European tour of some of the continent’s most exciting emerging performers- from Iceland to Georgia and Hungary- right here to Birmingham.”
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal, added: “We are delighted to welcome our European guests to Birmingham- a city that thrives on its diversity, creativity and cultural energy. Hosting the ECHO Directors meeting is a wonderful opportunity to show the world the talent, ambition and community spirit that make Birmingham such an inspiring place for music.”